[1] Anyone born of woman is short of days and full of trouble. [2] He blossoms like a flower, then withers; he flees like a shadow and does not last. [3] Do you really take notice of one like this? Will you bring me into judgment against you? [4] Who can produce something pure from what is impure? No one! [5] Since a person's days are determined and the number of his months depends on you, and since you have set limits he cannot pass, [6] look away from him and let him rest so that he can enjoy his day like a hired worker. [7] There is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its shoots will not die. [8] If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump starts to die in the soil, [9] the scent of water makes it thrive and produce twigs like a sapling. [10] But a person dies and fades away; he breathes his last-where is he? [11] As water disappears from a lake and a river becomes parched and dry, [12] so people lie down never to rise again. They will not wake up until the heavens are no more; they will not stir from their sleep. [13] If only you would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until your anger passes. If only you would appoint a time for me and then remember me. [14] When a person dies, will he come back to life? If so, I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes. [15] You would call, and I would answer you. You would long for the work of your hands. [16] For then you would count my steps but would not take note of my sin. [17] My rebellion would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity. [18] But as a mountain collapses and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place, [19] as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil from the land, so you destroy a man's hope. [20] You completely overpower him, and he passes on; you change his appearance and send him away. [21] If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they become insignificant, he is unaware of it. [22] He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.
